I'm sick.
The hospital has gotten the best of me, and I have as cold. Sore throat, run down. Bleah. I started coming down with it yesterday, and have been eating tons of vitamin c, zinc, and Airborne. Today, since I am a bit farther along the path, I am gonna wear a mask, and try to talk my mom into it as well. In addition to washing my hands about every five minutes, I am bringing a squirt bottle of alcohol to the hospital with me. Everything is gonna get a squirt- except maybe for my eye.
No word on whether or not my mom is heading home today. She said that her leg had a touch of pain when she woke up, but is now fine. Any more than that, and I am gonna insist on them putting her back on the antibiotics. I got her some major pro-biotic formula a few days ago to hopefully counter some of the negative effects, and hopefully that will help. The stupid "professionals" at the hospital that she take her meds in an order that she wouldn't if she was left to her own devices. If her blood pressure dips again, I am going to raise some hell.
Everyone at the hospital comments at length about what a great son I am, but to me, it's just a sad commentary on the quality of relationships that people have with their kids. The only reason that I am in there all day and night, is that my mom is a very loving person, and actually cared to foster a real connection with me as I grew up, rather than being overly concerned about me living out some fantasy of parental expectation. Unconditional love and support goes a long, long way. I just want to make sure that I can support her to the best of my ability through this process, since I can't really see a single thing that is more important in life.
I'm about to cut out of here, to go on my usual errands: Get my mom some ice cream at McDonalds (which, for some hideous reason, she and I are both partial to), and some movies. We watched three yesterday, all of which we enjoyed. THis movie feast has been a real pleasure.
The big, fat words of eeno at January 27, 2005 10:28 AMIan, I'm so glad you've been posting these updates, thank you.
I think it's really important that you are with your mom right now, and I know what you mean re: the "sad commentary" thing. It's so true. My take on it all, after having had a really fantastic relationship with my stepfather, is that parents are both afraid of and depressingly incurious about (or maybe incapable of?) participating in honest, stimulating dialogue with their children. And while we, as those children, do bear responsibility in the matter, if our parents aren't willing to engage, any concerted effort to communicate proactively fizzles out fairly quickly.
Thank god my relationship with my stepfather Roger wasn't like that, and I'm so grateful for you that you have such an amazing relationship with your mother.
Re: the school thing, set yourself a deadline by which you'll make a decision and don't pressure yourself to make it prematurely. You've got plenty to do with being there for your mother; just make sure your finances are in order and put yourself on semi-autopilot re: everything else.
That's my advice, anyway.
Love and a kiss on either cheek from Paris,
Gwinn